Big Bend and Environs, Day 4 : Big Bend National Park (Day 1)

Saturday, December 25 -- Christmas morning! Breakfasted in our room on instant oatmeal, hot cocoa, and mango nectar, after opening our stockings. Because the trip is our big present to ourselves, we opted to give each other small token gifts just for fun -- and it was fun. Next year, I'll keep my eyes open for small gifts all year long.
We hiked around the area and visited the ghost town cemetery, which is still in use.

An overview of the ghost town from the top of the hill to the west. The area is dotted with old mine shafts, most of which have been filled in, but a few were covered with metal grates so that tourists can get a glimpse of history. Apparently someone lives in that old school bus in the foreground; he's interviewed on the DVD "Ghost Town: 24 Hours in Terlingua.'

The large building in known as "The Mansion." The extension on the back has been restored and is rented out as "Upstairs at the Mansion." The owner hopes to gradually restore the entire building as a hotel.

Note the flying saucer -- aliens as well as ghosts!

Wifi is everywhere! I also like the name of the coffee shop "Espresso -- and little else" or, in more colloquial English, "Espresso -- and not much more."

Finally, some "found art" in Terlingua.

Terlingua is less than a 30-minute drive from the southwest entrance to Big Bend National Park. However, given that it was a holiday, the entrance station was closed, so we drove on in to the Panther Junction visitor's center to purchase our permit, rather than risk spoiling our trip.
The visitor's center was surprisingly busy, although perhaps not. Most of the visitors appeared to be on the same mission as we were, and the majority appeared to be international visitors. We heard a fair number of different accents, and three Asian children were inducted as junior rangers while their parents recorded the event.
Pass purchased and affixed to the inside of the windshield on the driver's side, we turned back south to Santa Elena canyon and the Rio Grande. Numerous roadside special exhibits explain the geology, flora, and fauna of the region. We were especially impressed with Tuff Canyon, a narrow, deep (20-75 feet) desert wash roughly half a mile long.

We reached Santa Elena canyon at lunch time, so we picnicked on smoked salmon pate, lobster pate, and olives from our Christmas stocking haul, before walking down to the river and the astounding canyon that it has carved.

We surprised a roadrunner on our walk back to the car, Mike's first. I find them the most amazingly primitive birds, and have no trouble believing that they are related to dinosaurs.
Up the narrow, twisty, winding road to the Chisos Mountains, then down again into the basin. Luck was with us when we checked into the Lodge. Someone had canceled and we were able to get one room for both nights! In honor of the holiday, we were presented with a gift bag of a Big Bend mug (just what we need -- another mug), a small bag of specialty coffee, and  handful of Christmas candy. The only dinner option was the Christmas buffet, so we forced ourselves to endure turkey, ham, stuffing, corn, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, green beans, and pie or cobbler, all for less than $20 a person. I also declared that we are eating out next Thanksgiving! All the trimmings with none of the work.